Short bio Kurt Atterberg
Birthday:
1887 in Göthenburg, Sweden
Died:
1974 in Stockholm, Sweden
Active:
1910s - 1960s
Genre:
Classical,New Age
Period:
Modern
Full biography Kurt Atterberg
Kurt Atterberg (1887-1974) was a Swedish composer, conductor, and music theorist, known for his contributions to Swedish music of the early 1900s. He was born in Göteborg, Sweden, and had a lifelong interest in music. Despite starting his university studies in engineering, he eventually shifted his focus towards music, studying at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm.
Atterberg began composing early in his life, with his first notable work being his String Quartet No. 1, which won second place in a competition in 1911. Over the course of his career, he composed nine symphonies, five concertos, three operas, and a number of other chamber and choral works. He is particularly noted for his symphonies, which range from grand and epic to light and playful.
Atterberg was a student of classical music, but his music displays a wide range of influences, from Swedish folk music to German Romanticism. He often used unconventional tonalities and harmonies in his compositions, pushing the boundaries of traditional classical music. His music is often noted for its strong sense of melody and its ability to evoke deep emotion in the listener.
In addition to his work as a composer, Atterberg served as a conductor and music theorist. He was a lifelong advocate for Swedish music, and he played a significant role in the formation of the Swedish Composers’ Society, which he served as secretary for many years.
Kurt Atterberg’s music fell out of favor for a time, but his compositions have gained greater recognition in recent years. He is now regarded as one of the foremost Swedish composers of the early 20th century, known for his innovative approach to classical music.
Compositions featuring Kurt Atterberg
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vittorioso, for orchestra, Op. 58 | 8:24 min | Orchestral | 1962 |
| 2 | Ballad without Words, for orchestra Op. 56 | 19:01 min | Orchestral | 1957 |
| 3 | Symphony No. 9, Op. 54 | 38:30 min | Symphony | 1955 |
| 4 | Sonata for horn & piano in B minor, Op 27 | 20:25 min | Chamber Music | 1955 |
| 5 | Symphony No. 8, Op. 48 | 32:49 min | Symphony | 1944 |
| 6 | Symphony No. 7 ("Sinfonia Romantica"), Op. 45 | 30:20 min | Symphony | 1941 |
| 7 | String Quartet No. 3, Op. 39 | 30:03 min | Chamber Music | 1937 |
| 8 | Ballade och Passacaglia, for orchestra, Op. 38 | 10:04 min | Orchestral | 1935 |
| 9 | Fanal, opera, Op 35 | Opera | 1934 | |
| 10 | Värmland Rhapsody, Op. 36 | 8:37 min | Orchestral | 1933 |
| 11 | Älven - från fjällen till havet, symphonic poem, Op. 33 | 19:49 min | Orchestral | 1929 |
| 12 | Symphony No. 6 in C, Op 31, "Dollar Symphony" | 29:40 min | Symphony | 1927 |
| 13 | Piano Concerto in B flat minor, Op. 37 | 35:21 min | Keyboard | 1927 |
| 14 | Concerto for horn & orchestra in A, Op 28 | 20:04 min | Concerto | 1926 |
| 15 | Bergslagen Serenade, for orchestra | 6:29 min | Orchestral | 1922 |
| 16 | Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op 20, "Sinfonia Funebre" | 32:12 min | Symphony | 1919 |
| 17 | String quartet in B, Op 11/2 | 17:09 min | Chamber Music | 1918 |
| 18 | Symphony No. 4 in G major ("Sinfonia Piccola"), Op. 14 | 20:30 min | Symphony | 1918 |
| 19 | Cello Concerto in C minor, Op. 21 | 38:31 min | Concerto | 1917 |
| 20 | Suite for violin, viola & string orchestra, Op. 19 | 12:01 min | Concerto | 1917 |
| 21 | Symphony No. 3 in D major ("Västkustbilder"), Op. 10 | 32:09 min | Symphony | 1914 |
| 22 | Suite No. 1 ("Orientale"), arr. for 2 violins, cello & piano | Chamber Music | 1913 | |
| 23 | Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 7 | 37:10 min | Concerto | 1913 |
| 24 | Suite No 1 for orchestra "Oriental" | 10:38 min | Orchestral | 1913 |
| 25 | Symphony No. 2 in F major, Op. 6 | 37:56 min | Symphony | 1911 |
| 26 | Overture for orchestra in A minor, Op. 4 | 13:18 min | Orchestral | 1910 |
| 27 | Rhapsody for piano & orchestra, Op. 1 | 10:26 min | Concerto | 1909 |
| 28 | Symphony No. 1 in B major, Op. 3 | 39:46 min | Symphony | 1909 |
| 29 | Valse monotone in C Major | 5:36 min | - | |
| 30 | Höstballader for Piano, Op. 15 (Autumn Ballads): No. 1 in B Minor, Molto agitato | 5:03 min | - | |
| 31 | Cello Concerto, Op. 21 | 34:26 min | Concerto | - |
| 32 | Sinfonia for Strings (String Quintet), Op. 53 | 29:46 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 33 | Höstballader for Piano, Op. 15 (Autumn Ballads): No. 2 in C Minor, Adagio | 5:29 min | - | |
| 34 | Intermezzo, for string orchestra | 8:26 min | Orchestral | - |
| 35 | Aladdin Overture for orchestra, Op. 44 | 6:12 min | Orchestral | - |
| 36 | Prelude & Fugue, for string orchestra | 3:11 min | Orchestral | - |
| 37 | Quintet for piano & strings in C major, Op 31a | 29:42 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 38 | Suite Pastorale in modo antico for orchestra, Op. 34 | 20:14 min | Orchestral | - |
| 39 | Suite No. 7, for string orchestra, Op. 29 (Incidental music to Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra) | 13:30 min | Orchestral | - |
| 40 | Suite Barocco for orchestra, Op. 23 | 17:06 min | Orchestral | - |
| 41 | Adagio amoroso, for flute & string orchestra | 8:04 min | Concerto | - |
| 42 | Rondeau Rétrospectif, Op. 26 (Motto, Spectator) | 10:47 min | - | |
| 43 | Sonata for cello & piano, Op 27 | 24:22 min | Chamber Music | - |
Albums featuring Kurt Atterberg
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Kurt Atterberg, Amus Kerstin Andersson, Mats Levin, Örebro Chamber Orchestra, Thord Svedlund – Concerto For Violin, Cello And Orchestra(CD, Album) | 2019 | Danacord |
| 2 |  |
Kurt Atterberg, Lars-Erik Larsson, Ingvar Lidholm – Under Tonsättarens Taktpinne(3×CD, Album) | 2019 | Caprice Records |
| 3 |  |
Atterberg ∙ Wirén ∙ Sibelius ∙ Bræin ∙ Halvorsen ∙ Svendsen ∙ Sinding ∙ Bull ∙ Alm, LGT Young Soloists, Alexander Gilman – Nordic Dream (Works For String Orchestra)(CD, ) | 2018 | RCA Red Seal |
| 4 |  |
Atterberg, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi – Orchestral Works, Vol. 4(CD, Album, Stereo) | 2016 | Chandos |
| 5 |  |
Atterberg, Anna Larsson (2), Olle Persson, Gothenburg Symphony Chorus And Orchestra, Neeme Järvi – Orchestral Works, Vol. 5(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Album) | 2016 | Chandos |
| 6 |  |
Atterberg, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi – Orchestral Works, Volume 3(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Album) | 2015 | Chandos |
| 7 |  |
Kurt Atterberg, Nikolai Schneider, Johannes-Theodor Wimes, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Ari Rasilainen – Cello Concerto • Horn Concerto(CD, ) | 2015 | cpo |
| 8 |  |
Atterberg, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi – Orchestral Works, Volume 2(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Album) | 2014 | Chandos |
| 9 |  |
Bull, Vasks, Atterberg, Eliasson, Sibelius | Kathrin Ten Hagen, Itamar Ringel, Folkwang Kammerorchester, Johannes Klumpp – Northern Lights(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel) | 2014 | Ars Produktion |
| 10 |  |
Atterberg, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi – Orchestral Works, Volume 1(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Album) | 2013 | Chandos |
| 11 |  |
Arturo Toscanini - Atterberg, Barber, Fernandez, R. Strauss, Ravel – Symphony No. 6 / Adagio For Strings / Reisado Do Pastoreio Batuque / Don Juan / La Valse(CD, ) | 2009 | Guild |
| 12 |  |
Atterberg, Brahms, Truls Mørk, The Symphony Orchestra Of NorrlandsOperan, Kristjan Järvi – Cello Concerto • String Sextet In G Major(CD, Album) | 2007 | BIS |
| 13 |  |
Kurt Atterberg - Ulf Wallin, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Roger Epple – Violin Concerto・Concert Overture(CD, Album) | 2006 | cpo |
| 14 |  |
Kurt Atterberg – NDR Radiophilharmonie, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart Des SWR, Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt • Ari Rasilainen – Complete Symphonies(5×CD, , Box Set, Compilation) | 2004 | cpo |
| 15 |  |
Kurt Atterberg, Camerata Nordica, Ulf Wallin – Sinfonia Per archi(CD, Stereo) | 2004 | cpo |
| 16 |  |
Kurt Atterberg – NDR Radiophilharmonie, Ari Rasilainen – Symphony 9 “Visionaria” / Symphonic Poem “Älven”(CD, Album, Stereo) | 2003 | cpo |
| 17 |  |
Kurt Atterberg – Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt, Ari Rasilainen – Symphonies 2 & 5(CD, Album, Stereo) | 2002 | cpo |
| 18 |  |
Kurt Atterberg – SWR Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart, Ari Rasilainen – Symphonies 7 & 8 | 2001 | cpo |
| 19 |  |
Kurt Atterberg, Ari Rasilainen, Love Derwinger, Radio-Philharmonie Hannover Des NDR – Piano Concerto - Rhapsody - Ballade & Passacaglia(CD, Album) | 2001 | cpo |
| 20 |  |
Kurt Atterberg • Lars-Erik Larsson • Gunnar De Frumerie – Sarah Lindloff • Sara Trobäck • Johanna Persson • Swedish Chamber Orchestra • Petter Sundkvist – Swedish Orchestral Favourites, Vol. 2(CD, Album, Stereo) | 2000 | Naxos |
| 21 |  |
Kurt Atterberg – Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt, Ari Rasilainen – Symphonies 1 & 4(CD, Album, Stereo) | 1999 | cpo |
| 22 |  |
Kurt Atterberg – Radio-Philharmonie Hannover Des NDR, Ari Rasilainen – Symphonies 3 & 6(CD, Album) | 1999 | cpo |
| 23 |  |
Kurt Atterberg, Dan Franklin Smith, Christian Bergqvist, Gävle Symphony Orchestra, B Tommy Andersson – Piano Concerto : Violin Concerto(CD, Album) | 1999 | Sterling (2) |
| 24 |  |
Kurt Atterberg, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Michail Jurowski – Symphony No.7, "Sinfonia Romantica" - Symphony No.8(CD, Album) | 1998 | Sterling (2) |
| 25 |  |
Sir Thomas Beecham, Kurt Atterberg – Beecham Conducts Atterberg Symphony No 6(CD, Mono) | 1997 | Dutton |
| 26 |  |
Kurt Atterberg, Eszter Pérényi, András Kiss, Ilona Prunyi, Sándor Falvay, György Kertész, Deborah Sipkay – Chamber Music Vol. 1 | 1992 | Marco Polo |
| 27 |  |
Stockholms Filharmoniska Orkester / Stig Westerberg, Kurt Atterberg, Edvin Kallstenius, Oskar Lindberg – Atterberg / Kallstenius / Lindberg(CD, ) | 1992 | Musica Sveciae |
| 28 |  |
Kurt Atterberg - Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Jun'ichi Hirokami – Symphony No. 6 In C Major, Op. 31 ('Dollar Symphony') / A Värmland Rhapsody / Ballad Without Words(CD, Album) | 1992 | BIS |
| 29 |  |
Kurt Atterberg - Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra • Stig Westerberg • Norrköping Symphony Orchestra • Sten Frykberg – Symphony No. 1 / Symphony No. 4, "Sinfonia Piccola" | 1989 | Sterling (2) |
| 30 |  |
Kurt Atterberg, The Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Sixten Ehrling / Albert Linder, The Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Gérard Oskamp – Symphony No. 3 In D Major, Op. 10 / Concerto For Horn And Orchestra In A Minor, Op. 28 | 1988 | Caprice Records |
| 31 |  |
Tor Aulin, Kurt Atterberg, Kungliga Hovkapellet, Eri Klas – Musik På Dramaten | 1988 | Musica Sveciae |
| 32 |  |
Aladdin Overture / Suite Barocco / Suite Pastorale / String Quartet(CD, Album) | 1988 | Swedish Society Discofil |
| 33 |  |
Jacob ✽ Larsson ✽ Seiber ✽ Reger ✽ Atterberg, Sören Hermansson, Umeå Sinfonietta, Edvard Tjivzjel – Horn Concertos(CD, Stereo) | 1987 | BIS |
| 34 |  |
Kurt Atterberg, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Stig Westerberg – Symphony No. 2 / Suite No. 3(CD, Remastered) | 1986 | Swedish Society Discofil |
| 35 |  |
Natanael Berg / Kurt Atterberg – Traumgewalten / Symfoni Nr 3, D-Dur "Västkustbilder"(LP, Stereo) | 1983 | Caprice Records |
| 36 |  |
Kurt Atterberg , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham – Dollarsymfonin = Dollar Symphony(LP, Mono) | 1982 | His Master's Voice |
| 37 |  |
Crusell / Atterberg / Hans Eklund - Albert Linder, Göteborgs Symfoniorkester – Sinfonia Concertante / Hornkonsert A-moll, Op. 28 / Hornkonsert(LP, Stereo) | 1982 | Caprice Records |
| 38 |  |
L.-E. Larsson, J.-H. Roman, K. Atterberg, H. Rosenberg, The Stockholm Sinfonietta, J.-O. Wedin, Alf Nilsson, Nils-Erik Sparf, Jouko Mansnerus, Elemér Lavotha – A Swedish Pastorale (Pastoral Suite - A Winter's Tale / Concerto For Oboe D'Amore / Suite No. 3 | 1980 | BIS |
| 39 |  |
Hugo Alfvén, Kurt Atterberg, Suska Smoliansky, Oskar Lindberg (2), Nils Eriksson (3) – Alfven, Atterberg, Lindberg(LP, Stereo) | 1977 | Telestar |
| 40 |  |
Kurt Atterberg / Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester – Suite Barocco / Suite Pastorale | 1967 | Swedish Society Discofil |
| 41 |  |
Kurt Atterberg / Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester / Stig Westerberg – Symfoni Nr 2(LP) | 1967 | Swedish Society Discofil |
| 42 |  |
Kurt Atterberg, Gunnar de Frumerie, Dag Wirén - Radioorkestern, Stig Westerberg – Svit För Violin, Viola Och Stråkorkester / Pastoralsvit / Sinfonietta | 1965 | Swedish Society Discofil |
| 43 |  |
Kurt Atterberg, Oskar Lindberg (2), Stockholms Filharmoniska Orkester, Nils Grevillius – De Fåvitska Jungfrurna, Leksandssvit | 1964 | Swedish Society Discofil |
| 44 |  |
Kurt Atterberg cond. Berliner Philharmoniker – Symfoni N:r 6 Op. 31 ("Dollar Symphony")(3×Shellac, 12", 78 RPM, Album) | 1928 | Polydor |
| 45 |  |
Kurt Atterberg / Ilona Prunyi, György Kertész, Imre Magyari, New Budapest Quartet – Chamber Music Vol. 2(CD, Album, Repress, Stereo) | - | Marco Polo |
| 46 |  |
Kurt Atterberg, Ferruccio Busoni - Lennart Hedwall Conducting Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra – Symphony No. 8 / Overture To A Comedy(LP) | - | Aries Records (7) |
| 47 |  |
Kurt Atterberg, Lennart Hedwall, Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra – Symphony No.5 Op.20 (Sinfonia Funebre) Symphony No.6 Op.31(LP, Stereo) | - | Aries Records (7) |
| 48 |  |
Kurt Atterberg, Oskar Lindberg (2), Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester, Stig Westerberg – Kurt Atterberg Symfoni Nr 1 - Oskar Lindberg Florenz Och Blanzeflor(LP, Stereo) | - | Sterling (2) |
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